In the Presence of Elephants and Whales - We were made and set here, the writer Annie Dillard once wrote, "to give voice to our astonishments." Katy Payne is a renowned acoustic biologist with a Quaker sensibility. And she’s found her astonishment in listening to two of the world’s most exotic creatures. She has decoded the language of elephants and was among the first scientists to discover that whales are composers of song.

Queenie, Choi and friends: 150 years at the Melbourne Zoo - 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of Melbourne Zoo in its location at Royal Park, part of the green ring which surrounds the city. Australia's oldest zoo, the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens opened to the public in 1862, part of the city's boom time grandiloquence, and a mark of its growing urban cosmopolitanism.

People and Planet - David Attenborough presents the 2011 RSA President’s Lecture. There is no major problem facing our planet that would not be easier to solve if there were fewer people and no problem that does not become harder – and ultimately impossible to solve – with ever more.

National Wildlife Refuge Week (USA)

National Wildlife Refuge Week, celebrated each year during the second full week of October, is a great time to visit a national wildlife refuge to hike, fish, paddle or just delight in nature. Enjoy some of the many special events and festivals hosted by refuges this month. Or just come out and explore. Check the special events calendar for Refuge Week events. Hashtag: #WildlifeRefuge

Questions

1. What are the most respected wildlife festivals?
2. How is 'wildlife' translated in other languages?
3. How should visitors evaluate how well zoos treat wildlife?
4. What are the best ways to care for wounded wildlife?
5. How do parks best educate visitors on wildlife encounters?
6. What are examples of irresponsible tourism when it comes to encounters with wildlife?
7. Can hunting be an effective strategy for wildlife conservation?

Marine Megafauna Collection presents research focused on the biology, ecology and conservation of the most captivating creatures in the ocean. These articles represent a broad survey of fascinating organisms and systems, and provide a core set of reading materials for marine science educators seeking to increase the engagement of students in class using compelling examples.

Quotes

But we shouldn't assume that because an animal does poorly on a test, it doesn't have self-recognition or a theory of mind. It's quite likely we've done a poorly designed experiment. For a long time, people thought chimpanzees weren't good at recognizing faces. Then someone had the bright idea of testing chimps on other chimps' faces, rather than our own.
- Jonathan Balcombe, How to have fun like monkeys

We conducted two public hangouts on air. This is an open call to colleagues who would like to participate online in a conversation about wildlife conservation and responsible travel. These chats were webcast via livestreaming on YouTube.

Technical Tip: Those interested in appearing on camera for Planeta's hangouts are asked to download the Google+ hangout plug-ins (if necessary). You will need a working webcam and microphone. Test this out beforehand! Please let Ron Mader know ahead of time if would like to join on screen and your gmail address. While the hangouts can be viewed by everyone, those appearing on screen are by invitation. Everyone is welcome to provide specific examples via Google+ or via Twitter by including @RonMader in your tweet.